The Federal Ministry of Water Resources has restated its commitment to stamp out open defecation in the country.
The ministry added that creating awareness on hand washing and water, sanitation and hygiene is critical to achieve zero open defecation by 2025.
According to Chief Scientific Officer, Water Quality Control and Sanitation, Federal Ministry of Water Resources, Yemisi Akpa at the commemoration of Global Hand washing Day at Graki Market, Abuja on Thursday said, The approval of the national campaign to make Nigeria open defecation free by 2025 is critical which is to increase awareness on hand washing with soap and water at the critical times.
“The Federal Ministry of Water Resources is basically policy organisation which is not involves in actual service delivery. We are policy development organization.”
“The ministry on its part has been supporting the states to provide the services and deliver it well.
“The ministry develops policies and strategies that guides the implementation at the state levels and also at some points does intervention to states to ensure that they are able to delivers these services to their people.”
“A lots of states are also doing their bits to ensure that they improve access to WASH services.” She added.
Speaking further, Akpa said other initiatives at the national levels is the development of the national action plans which is aimed at revitalizing the WASH sectors.
“Last year, the President declared the state of emergency in the sector which is expected from the states to take up and ensure that more resources are allocated to the sector to ensure that there are more improved service delivery across board.”
